Indicating system



June 15, 1937. w, P, V KE 2,084,169

INDICATING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 17, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet ll|lIIllIllIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllIlllllllllllllllllllllllllIlllll|IllIIllIllllIlllIlllIllIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllil/9 F/ .5- l 7 {a 1:0 @4 01 l 441 9 /a+ IIIIIIIIIIIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll [1 1'lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllIlllllllllllIIIIllIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllIllllllllllllllllllllllllllIlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllia Fig.8.

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June'15, 1937. w. P. VENZKE 2,034,159

INDICATING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 17, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor: WalterP. VeT'IZKe,

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Patented June 15, 1937 UNITED STATES rarer orries INDICATING SYSTEM NewYork Application August 1'7, 1934, Serial No. 740,319 In GermanySeptember '7, 1933 8 Claims.

My invention relates to indicating systems and concerns particularlyarrangements for use in electric control stations to indicate thepositions of switches or other movable parts in an electricaldistribution system.

It is an object of my invention to provide an arrangement for displayingat any time a symbolic picture of the varying conditions of operation aswell as the positions of switches in distri- 10 bution networks.

It is a further object of my invention to provide such an arrangementwhich may be readily constructed at relatively little cost and in whichthe consumption of current and the production of waste heat will bereduced to a minimum.

Still another object is the provision of an indicating system in whichthe indications may be clearly and easily read.

Inaccordance with my invention in its pre- 0 ferred form, vibrating reedindicating elements are utilized for'producing the position indications.The individual indicating elements may be used in conjunction with linesmarked on a panel in the form of a diagram representing the conduc- 2tors or the power lines in a distribution network. The vibrating reedelements may be so arranged that targets carried by the vibrating reedsmove either at right angles to or along lines representing' theelectrical network for the purpose of producing the illusion of linesegments intersecting the lines on the diagram to represent theconnection of feeders to-main buses or closing gaps in the lines of thediagram to represent the closing of switches in various portions of apower 5 line-or bus.

If desired, the lines of the diagram may also be produced wholly or inpart by the targets of a number of adjacent vibrating reed elements forthe purpose either of producing the illusion of a 40 broadened line torepresent a live section of a network or for the purpose of changing abroken linerepresenting a dead section into a series of connected linesegments to represent a live section of the network. This modificationis claimed 5 specifically in my copending divisional application SerialNo. 137,070 filed Apr. 15, 1937.

The direction of flow of a flowing medium or the direction of powertransfer in an electric system: may also be represented symbolically byusingthe targets of a series of adjacent vibrating reed elements torepresent a pipe line or electricpower line and causing the vibratingreed elements-to be energized in succession to produce theillusion offlow by the successive vibration of the targets along the line oftargets in a direction corresponding to the direction of flow or powertransfer.

The features of my invention which I believe to be novel and patentablewill be pointed out in the claims appended hereto. A betterunderstanding of my invention, itself, however, may be obtained byreferring to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 represents schematically in a sideview one of the vibrating reed elements and shows in cross section afragment of the panel or indicating board on which the vibrating reedelement is mounted. Figs. 2 to 9, inclusive, illustrate fragments ofindicating panels constructed in accordance with various embodiments ofmy invention. Figs. 10 and 11 are circuit diagrams of arrangements forproducing directional indications.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings in which like referencecharacters designate like parts throughout, in Fig. l, the vibratingreed element is represented as consisting of an exciting winding i Ienergized through a control circuit connected at the terminals I2. Avibrating reed. i3 is set in motion by the energization of excitingwinding It and a target it is carried on the end of the reed I3 topermit easy detection of the vibration of the reed l3. The vibratingreed element may be similar to such elements of a well known type usedin vibrating reed frequency meters and, therefore, need not be describedin detail.

I have found it satisfactory to mount the vibrating reed elements on theback of a panel, such asthe panel 1&5, with each vibrating reed l3projecting through. an opening H5 in the panel so that the target M ispositioned in front of the face of the panel I5. However, it will beunderstood that I am not limited to this precise construction and might,if desired, also arrange the target. M to vibrate flush with the surfaceof panel IE or in a recess. In the-arrangement illustrated with thetarget Iii positioned in front of the panel IS, a channel l! is providedpreferably having a transparent front plate Hi to protect the vibratingelements and composed of any suitable material such asglass. syntheticresin, or the like.

To simulate the conductors of an electrical network or the pairs orgroups of conductors forming an electric transmission line, a strip orline I9 may be painted on, pasted to, or otherwise affixed. to thetransparent front plate it. In the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1,2, and 3, the strip or line it is continuous and the targets M arepositioned behind the strip IE9 so as to be concealed when in theirpositions of rest. In Fig. 2 strip l9 represents a section of adistribution network with all lateral feeders disconnected, and thetargets I 4 being at rest are not visible behind the strip 19. Fig. 3represents the condition where switches have been closed at two pointsrepresentedby the points Ma and Mb, causing the vibrating reed elementsto be energized and making the targets Ma and Nb of the two elementsvisible as lines intersecting the line E9 to simulate the connection offeeders at the two points. It will be understood that, owing to the highfrequency of vibration of the targets Ma and Mb, elongated or extendedimages of them are produced and they appear to the eye as continuouslines or line segments as in the case of vibrating reed frequencymeterelements.

Suitable control circuits are, of course, to be provided forsimultaneously energizing reed windings l l and operating the switchessimulated or for energizing the reed windings in response to operationof the switches. Such circuits, however, are not part of my inventionand need not, therefore, be described in detail. For example, in Fig. 1,if the vibrating reed element is intended to simulate a circuit breakerl adapted to connect a feeder circuit, 2 to a bus 3, the circuit breakerI may be provided with an auxiliary set of contacts 4 serving to close acircuit from an auxiliary alternating current source 5 through the reedactuating winding II when the circuit breaker l assumes its closedposition, thereby setting the reed l3 in vibration.

The vibrating reed element illustrated in Fig. 1 may be so arranged thatthe target M vibrates either transversely to the line 19 or in the samedirection. If the direction of vibration is the same as the direction ofthe line I9, gaps may be left in the line l9 at 20 and 2| to simulateswitches at these two points arranged to break an electrical networkinto several sections rep resented by the several segments of the brokenline l9 as shown in Fig. 5. When the switches are closed, thecorresponding vibrating reed elements are energized and the vibration ofthe targets Ma and Mb produces the illusion of line segments closing thegaps 20 and 2| and causing the line l9 to appear continuous, as in Fig.2, to represent continuity of the power line represented by the diagram.The strips l9 and targets l4 may be given special colors, or' coatedwith luminous paint to make the diagram especially clear.

If desired, distribution networks having switches both for isolatingsections of the network and for connecting feeders to each section mayalso berepresented by a diagram similar to that shown in Fig. 6 in whichtransversely vibrating reed elements are placed at 22, 23, and 24 torepresent switches connecting sections to lateral feeders, andlongitudinally vibrating elements are placed at 25 and 26 to representswitches for breaking up a portion of the network into sections.

If desired, the lines of the diagram representing the network may bewholly made up of the targets of vibrating reed elements as illustratedin Figs. 4 and 9. For example, in the arrangement of Fig. 4, thevibrating elements may be arranged to vibrate transversely. Then thenarrow line composed of targets at rest represents a dead portion of thenetwork anda broad line produced by vibrating targets might represent alive portion of the network.

If the targets in thearrangementillustrated in Fig. 9 are arranged tovibrate longitudinally, an illusion of a continuous line will beproduced when the vibrating elements are energized and the broken linerepresented by targets at rest may represent a dead portion of anetwork. The continuous line represented by the vibrating targets mayrepresent a live portion of the network.

My invention is not limited merely to indicating the positions ofswitches or other movable elements of an electrical network or toindicating whether sections of a network are alive or dead but may alsobe adapted to the production of other indications, for example, anindication of the direction in which power is flowing or beingtransferred in an electrical system.

For example, if a power line simulating diagram is made up of aplurality of vibrating elements, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 9, thevibrating elements may be arranged to be energized progressively fromone end of the diagram to the other instead of simultaneously for thepurpose of producing an illusion of flow. Obviously, the successivevibrations of the targets I 4 along the line of targets would produce avery effective symbol of power flow.

Any suitable method may be employed for energizing the vibrating reedelements progressively. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 10, each ofthe elements may be connected through a control circuit to an inductanceand the inductances may be given progressively increasing values inorder to cause each element to-have a different time lag of response, inthis lway causing the vibrations to take place progressively.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. .l0,.a plurality of vibrating reedelements Ma, Mb, I40, and l 4d have their actuating windings Ila, llb,Ho, and Hal connected to an auxiliary source of alternating current 5through thecontacts of a set of relays 21a to 21d which, in turn, are

controlled by a power directional relay 18 re sponsive to the directionof power transfer in a three-phase transmission line 29. The windings ofthe relays 21a to 21d are connected to a source of auxiliary current 30through one or the other of alternative pairs of contacts 3| and 32 ofthe power direction relay, 28 and through inductances 33a to 33d,varying successively in value.

Preferably, relays 34ato 340'), adaptedto permit current to flow only apredetermined length of time and then restore the circuit again afteranother predetermined duration of circuit interruption are alsoconnected in series with the windings 21a to 21d. The relays 34a to 34d,for example, may be of the bimetallic thermostatic strip type whichbecome heated after current has flowed a predetermined length of time,bend' ing away from the stationary contacts to open the circuit and thenbeing cooled to close the circuit again after another predeterminedlength of time.

When the direction of power transfer is suchthat the power directionalrelay 28 closes its contacts 32 the relay 21a will be connected directlythrough a source 30 to thermostatic relay 34a and vibrating reed elementMa will be set in vibration, continuing to vibrate until therelay 34aopens. A circuit will also beclosed throughwinding 21b, the upper halfof inductance 33b, and thermostatic relay 36b tothe source 30. Owing tothe inductance in the circuit, the closing of relay 27b will be'laterthan the closing of relay 21a, and vibrating reed element Mb will startvibrating slightly later than element Ma but will vibrate for the sameperiodof time as the element Ma. In a similar manner, relay 21c,conneoted through the inductance 330 will be further delayed, and relay21d, connected through inductance 33d of greater value, will be stillfurther delayed. Consequently, the vibrating reed elements Ma to Md willbe set in vibration progressively and successive waves of vibration willappear to travel down the row of vibrating reed elements to indicate thedirection of power transfer. If the direction of power transfer reversesso as to close the contacts 3| instead of the contacts 32, the relayZ'id will, of course, be directly connected to the source without anyinductance in the circuit and the relays 21c, 21b, and 21a will beconnected through successively increasing amounts of inductance toreverse the order in which the vibrating reed elements Ma, to Md areactuated.

The vibrating reed elements may also be progressively actuated in adirection dependent upon the direction of power transfer by means of arotary switch 35 (Fig. 11) driven by a power directional relay 36 of theinductance disc motor type, which is well known and need not bedescribed in detail. The moving blade 31 of the rotary switch 35progressively engages the stationary contacts 35a, 38b, 38c, and 3801'to close circuits progressively through the reed-actuating windings (Lto lid. Upon reversal in direction of power transfer the direction ofrotation of the motor 35 and the switch blade 3'! reverses. While I havedescribed specific arrangements for progressively actuating vibratingreed elements, it will be understood that I am not limited to the exactarrangements which I have disclosed.

Although my invention is particularly well adapted to use withelectrical networks, it will be understood, of course, that it is notlimited thereto but may also be used for the symbolic indication ofconditions of operation in other systems having a flowing medium. Forexample, in water or gas distributing systems, the opening or closing ofvalves in a pipe line or in laterals may be represented by vibratingtargets as illustrated in Figs. 5 or 3, respectively. Similarly, thedirection of flow of any other medium, as well as the direction of powertransfer of electricity, may be represented by causing the vibratingreeds to be energized progressively as previously explained.

If desired, transient conditions in electrical networks may berepresented by flicker indications similar to the flicker lights used inluminous line diagrams by energizing the vibrating reed elements withintermittent alternating current or by using alternating currentmodulated with another frequency. For example, a relay actuated bytransient currents may be utilized to connect vibrating reed elements toa source of intermittent alternating current upon the occurrence of atransient.

Obviously, high precision is not required in the manufacture of the reedelements, since the vibrating reeds may be broadly tuned to anyfrequency near the frequency or" the current source, for example, from59.5 to 60.5 cycles for 60 cycle systems.

My invention may also be used in conjunction with direct controlcurrents when it is desired to produce indications of direction orindications of which or" two alternative switches is closed. Forexample, in the arrangement of Figs. '7 and 8, the targets 5 4 may bedeflected in one direction by direct currents of a given polarity torepresent the closing of switches connecting a line to one circuit andmay be deflected in the opposite direction to represent the closing ofswitches connecting a line to a different alternative circuit or torepresent the reversal of position ofdoublethrow switches. If desired,the arrangementof Fig. 8' may also be utilized torepresent thecontinuity or interruption of an electrical circuit by i causing thetargets M to deflect out of line when the circuit is interrupted and todrop back in alignment with the line H) when the circuit is continuous.

I have herein shown and particularly described skilled in the art thatmany modifications and' variations are possible and I aim, therefore, tocover all such modifications and variations as fall within the scope ofmy invention which is defined in the appended claims.

Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An indicating arrangement comprising in combination, an indicatingplate having a line thereon representing a line of flow with a gap insaid line representing means for interrupting flow, and a vibrating reedindicator having a target located in said gap in its position of restand having means for vibrating said target through the distance of saidgap, thus apparently closing said gap when said target is set invibration to indicate that the means for interrupting flow has been setto the position permitting flow.

2. An arrangement for indicating a connection between two memberscomprising in combination, a panel having a line thereon with a gap insaid line to represent a lack of connection between said two members,and a vibrating reed indicating element having a target in alignmentwith said line in its position of rest and having means for setting saidtarget in vibration in the direction of said line with an amplitudecorresponding substantially to the length of the gap in said line toproduce the illusion of a line segment completing said first mentionedline for the purpose of indicating a connection between the two members.

3. An arrangement for indicating the position of a switch adapted toconnect two conductors comprising in combination, a panel having a linethereon representing one of the electrical conductors, and a vibratingreed indicating element having a target in alignment with said line inits position of rest and having means for vibrating said target in aplane parallel to said panel through a path, joining the projection ofsaid line on said plane to produce by persistence of vision an illusionof a line segment connecting with said first mentioned line to representby the apparent connection of said line and said line segment theclosing of a switch joining the second conductor to said first mentionedconductor.

4. A switch position indicator comprising in combination, a panel havinga line marked thereon to represent an electrical conductor, and avibrating reed indicating element having a target concealed under aportion of said line in its position of rest and having means forvibrating said tar-get transversely to said line to produce the illusionof a line segment intersecting said line to represent the closing of aswitch connecting a second conductor to said first mentioned conductorat a point represented by the position of said vibrating reed.

20 What I claim as new and desire to secure .by

5. An indicating arrangement for an electrical network comprising achannel enclosing a line representing a portion of the electricalnetwork and a vibrating reed element having a target on said line in itsposition of rest and means for setting said target in vibration whensaid portion of the network is energized, producing the illusion of 'avisible line segment touching said line to represent a condition ofenergization of said network at a point represented by said vibratingreed element.

6. In a line diagram indicating system for an electrical network, asupporting panel, a channel mounted on the front of said panel having acenter line representing a portion of the electrical network, avibrating reed element mounted on the back of said panel, having a reedcarrying a target and reed-vibrating means energized with said portionof the electrical network, said panel having an aperture therein throughwhich said reed projects to the front, said target in its position ofrest being in alignment with the center line of said channel and beingvibrated during energization of the vibrating means to produce theillusion of a visible line segment representing a condition ofenergization at a point in the electrical network represented by saidvibrating reed element.

7. A line diagram indicating arrangement comprising in combination, asupporting panel with a line marked thereon, a vibrating reed elementthereon having a target and means for vibrating said target in responseto a condition, the existence of which is to be indicated, the path ofvibration of said target meeting said line, whereby vibration of saidtarget produces the illusion of a line segment forming with said panelline a figure representing the condition to be indicated.

